August 4, 2008 |
Contact:
Krishna Stone, GMHC, 347.668.6161
Catharine Bufalino, African Services Committee, 212.222.3882
Coral Lopez, BIENESTAR, 323.387.1533
Sean P. Nichols, Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, 202.225.2661
Krishna Stone, GMHC, 212.367.1016
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U.S. HIV-RELATED TRAVEL AND IMMIGRATION BAR REPEALED
Experts and Advocates Convene in Mexico City for the International AIDS Conference and Proposed Next Steps
Honorable Congresswoman Barbara Lee Participates in Satellite Session
Mexico City — The Sixth International AIDS Conference (IAC) scheduled for San Francisco in 1990 instigated boycotts that drew international attention due to the discriminatory bar on HIV-positive people traveling or immigrating to the U.S. Since that year, there has not been an International AIDS conference in the United States. In fact, the 1992 conference scheduled to be held in Boston, Massachusetts was moved to Amsterdam due to global outrage. Nearly two decades later, advocates are celebrating the repeal of this same bar at the 17th IAC being held in Mexico City. The HIV bar was originally proposed by the late Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) and signed into law in 1993. Lifting the bar is an advocacy success story; but one that is not over quite yet.
"The repeal of the HIV travel and immigration bar is a win for human rights," said Robert Bank, Chief Operating Officer of Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC). "The provision included in the global AIDS funding reauthorization and signed by President Bush is the first step. To completely lift the bar, we urge HHS Secretary Leavitt to remove HIV immediately from the list of 'communicable diseases of public health significance' that prevent people living with HIV from entering the United States."
The travel and immigration bar prohibits people living with HIV or AIDS from activities HIV-negative people are able to take for granted, including visiting family in other countries, migrating for employment, vacationing, and participating in international events.
"The discriminatory and stigmatizing HIV travel and immigration bar has harmed many individuals, separated families, and limited our ability to effectively respond to the epidemic by curtailing participation in international meetings," said Amanda Lugg, Community Advocate, African Services Committee. "We hope the U.S. government finally lifting the bar will encourage the remaining countries with similar restrictions to do the same."
Experience in Brazil and elsewhere shows that policies allowing people with HIV to cross borders freely neither overburden health systems nor increase incidence rates. The fact is foreign-born people living in the U.S. are more likely to be poor and disconnected from healthcare. In relation to HIV and AIDS, 20 years of fear-based policy have made a bad situation worse.
"Many immigrants live in fear of deportation which is a barrier to accessing HIV/AIDS prevention, testing and treatment programs. It will take work to reach out and convince vulnerable people that it is safe to seek the lifesaving information and care that they need, then the work to ensure linkages to a full range of appropriate services remains," said Oscar De La O, founding President and CEO of BIENESTAR.
Satellite Session – Sunday, August 3, 2008 – 11:15 AM:
These experts, as well as other advocates will share knowledge and strategize at UNDERMINING PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS: The United States' HIV Immigration and Travel Ban, a Satellite Session to be held during the International AIDS Conference, Mexico City on Sunday, August 3, 2008 from 11:15 am – 1:15 pm/ 11:15 am – 3:15 pm in Skills Building Room 9. Participants will share the latest information on this issue, including public health and human rights analysis, as well as first hand experiences.
Joining the session is the Honorable Congresswoman Barbara Lee, one the original co-authors of the PEPFAR bill, as well as the initial legislation in 2003. "I am so pleased that we were able to eliminate the unjust and discriminatory policy banning HIV/AIDS positive people from entering the United States," said Congresswoman Lee. "It's far past time we got rid of this shameful policy. I'm glad we were able to remove the statutory ban and pass the bill before this conference."
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Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. We provide prevention and care services to more than 15,000 men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City, and advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.
African Services Committee is a non-profit organization founded in 1981 and dedicated to improving the health and self-sufficiency of the African community. They provide health, housing, legal, educational and social services to over 10,000 immigrants each year in New York City with programs that focus on HIV prevention, care and support. They also work on the frontlines of the global AIDS epidemic operating HIV clinics in Ethiopia and through advocacy, policy work and technical assistance in the U.S. and abroad.
BIENESTAR is the largest Latino HIV service organization in the country. Oscar De La O, a founding member and President of BIENESTAR, has been an advocate within the fight against HIV/AIDS and the fight for Latino LGBT equality for over twenty-five years. BIENESTAR has grown from being an AIDS project providing information on weekends to a comprehensive social services and support agency with eleven community service centers in Southern California and advocacy efforts at the state and nation level. Through community leadership, Oscar has received numerous recognitions and awards, including being named Man of the Year 2002 by the Christopher Street West-L.A. Pride Organization, National Leadership Award 2002 by the National Latino Lesbian Gay Organization (LLEGO), Public Official Award presented by Stonewall Democratic Club, The Mexican American Political Association Community Activist Award, and the Humanitarian Award from the Children's Leukemia Society of Ensenada, Mexico. He sees his future wherever opportunities are available to promote and create change toward a healthier and more equitable society, one founded upon principles of access to health, social and economic empowerment, and democratic justice.
© 2008 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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